Inventory and analysis of the protein subunits of the ribonucleases P and MRP provides further evidence of homology between the yeast and human enzymes

Nucleic Acids Res. 2006;34(18):5145-56. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkl626. Epub 2006 Sep 22.

Abstract

The RNases P and MRP are involved in tRNA and rRNA processing, respectively. Both enzymes in eukaryotes are composed of an RNA molecule and 9-12 protein subunits. Most of the protein subunits are shared between RNases P and MRP. We have here performed a computational analysis of the protein subunits in a broad range of eukaryotic organisms using profile-based searches and phylogenetic methods. A number of novel homologues were identified, giving rise to a more complete inventory of RNase P/MRP proteins. We present evidence of a relationship between fungal Pop8 and the protein subunit families Rpp14/Pop5 as well as between fungal Pop6 and metazoan Rpp25. These relationships further emphasize a structural and functional similarity between the yeast and human P/MRP complexes. We have also identified novel P and MRP RNAs and analysis of all available sequences revealed a K-turn motif in a large number of these RNAs. We suggest that this motif is a binding site for the Pop3/Rpp38 proteins and we discuss other structural features of the RNA subunit and possible relationships to the protein subunit repertoire.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Endoribonucleases / chemistry
  • Endoribonucleases / classification*
  • Endoribonucleases / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / classification*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / classification*
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Ribonuclease P / chemistry
  • Ribonuclease P / classification*
  • Ribonuclease P / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / classification
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Yeasts / enzymology*

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Endoribonucleases
  • mitochondrial RNA-processing endoribonuclease
  • Ribonuclease P